Degrees Held
- Doctor of Philosophy (Sociology), UKZN, 2017
- Masters in Social Work (Welfare Policy), UKZN, 2002
- BTech in Correctional Services Management, UNISA, 2000
- Bachelor of Social Work, UNIZUL, 1994.
Research Interests
- Africology
- Decoloniality
- African-Centred Psychosocial Support
- Gender and Sexuality
- Forensic social work
- Community Based Work with vulnerable groups
Teaching Interests
- Afrocentric Understanding of Human Behaviour and the Social Environment
- Working with Groups in Social Work
- Gender, AIDS and Violence
- Social Work Research Theory and Practice
- Social Work Practice
- Auxiliary Social Work and Community Care Work
Selected awards
- 2014 Thuthuka Grant for PHD: National Research Foundation
- 2012 Competitive Research Grant Award
- 2011 SANTRUST PHD Proposal Writing
- 2010 Educator of the Year Award (Up and Coming Category): Association of South African Schools of Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI). UKZN SANTRUST Pre-Doctoral Programme Award
Selected Publications
Books
Journal Articles
Chapters in Books
Books
- Zibane, S and Meintjes, B (2019). Community Based Work with Children and Youth: Care and Support of Children and Youth at Risk. 2019th REPSSI: Randburg, South Africa
- Mathe S and Meintjes B (2013). Module 4: Care and support of children at risk. Learner Workbook. 4rth South Africa: REPSSI
Journal Articles
- Zibane, S (2020). ‘Games Gone Wrong’: Boys, School Games and the Construction of Violent Gender & Behaviour, 18(2).
- Makhanya, T., and Zibane, S. (2020). Students’ Voices on How Indigenous Languages are Disfavoured in South African Higher Education. Language Matters, 51(1), 22-37. DOI: 1080/10228195.2020.1711533
- Mhangwa, T; Kasiram, M; and Zibane, S (2018). Effectiveness of aftercare services for female drug Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 30(2), 14pages. DOI: 10.25159/2415-5829/1783
- Mkhize, N; Mathe, S and Buthelezi, N (2014). Title: Ethical decision-making in cultural context: Implications for professional Mediterranean Journal for Social Sciences, 5(23), 2413-2419.
- Mathe S (2013). ‘Love is good even when it is bad’: Competing sexuality discourses in a Township High School in South Agenda: Sex, Gender and Chilhood, 97, 77-86
- Raniga T and Mathe S (2011). Private Lives, Public Issues: Child Bearing Experiences of Adolescent Mothers in the Era of HIV and AIDS, Bhambayi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Social Work/Maatsklaplike Werk, 47(3), 338-348
- Thabethe N and Mathe S (2010). Anti-Poverty Strategy in Rural KwaZulu-Natal: Contradictions and opportunities for Women in Poultry Farming. Agenda: Gender & Rurality, 84, 81-100.
- Mathe S (2007). The Responsiveness of Sexual Offenders to a Therapeutic Group Work Programme at Westville Medium B Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 43(4), 392-406.
- Mathe S (2007). Juvenile Sexual Offenders: We are the sons of our Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, 21(74), 133-140.
Chapters in Books
Zibane, S. (2021). “Ukushela”: Teenage Girls and Boys Initiating and Negotiating Courtship at School. In Bhana, A., Singh, S., and Msibi,T. (eds.). Gender, Violence and Sexuality in South African Education Spaces. Palgrave, Switzerland.
Community Involvement
- 2020/2021, HWSETA/UKZN COVID-19 Psychosocial Support Project Award, A project of Ma’at Institute, UKZN
- 2021, Guest Editor: Alternation. Special Issue: Intellectualisation of African Languages in Higher Education Institutions as a Strategy for Decolonisation and Transformation
- 2020/2021, Mapping Social Work in Higher Education during COVID-19 (UKZN, University of Complutense, Madrid, & National Autonomous University of Mexico)
- 2021, Towship History Project, UKZN/DUT/MUT and Sinomlando Centre
- 2020/2021, NIHSS Project Intellectualisation of IsiZulu in four selected Universities in KZN (UKZN, MUT, DUT & UNIZUL)
- 2020/2021, University of Eswatini/UKZN Social Work Practice Education Project
- 2019 to date, Associate Editor: The Southern African Journal of Social Work & Social Development
- 2019 to date, Thuthuka Grant: Post-PhD The project title is ‘Africanisation of Social Work Education.’
TEACHING EXPERTISE
- Motivational Expertise
- Consciousness Raising
- Advancing Afrocentric thought
- Promotion of Decolonial scholarship
Student Supervision
PhD
Masters
Honours
PhD
Year Completed
- Thembelihle Makhanya, 2021 (Completed), Exploring the students’ experiences of (de) coloniality: A Case Study of Social Work programme at a South African University in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Current Studying
- Prudence Mdletshe, 2021, Deconstructing African Identities: Notions of fatherhood amongst Zulu people in Eshowe, South Africa
- Talent Mhangwa, 2021, Exploring inpatient substance abuse therapeutic approaches for African recovering drug users in South Africa.
- Zwelisha Mfishi, 2021, Exploring Implications of COVID-19 on African Students’ Education at South African Institutions of Higher Learning.
- Bongani Mzinyane, 2021, The implementation of diversion services for adult offenders in selected districts of KwaZulu-Natal
Masters
Year of Completion
- Zwelisha Mfishi, 2019, THE MAKING OF A XHOSA MAN: Knowledge and attitudes of traditional surgeons and Xhosa men towards the regulation of the customary male initiation practice in the Pondoland region
- Nkululeko Mphumeleli Khumalo, 2017, Understanding the Bio-psychosocial effects of whoonga use by youth in KwaMashu Township, north of Durban
- Talent Mhangwa, 2016, Perceptions concerning the effectiveness of aftercare programmes for female recovering drug users
- Nompumelelo Ndlovu, 2015, Factors Influencing the Choice of a Backstreet Abortion by Young Women from a Township in Durban
- Lindiwe Cebekhulu, 2015, “Understanding the experiences of young widows in rural KwaZulu-Natal”
- Leandre Andreen Chetty, 2012, Termination of Pregnancy : A decision delimma amongst young women in a state hospital
Current Studying
- Sthembiso Phoswa: Cohesive Living: Exploring the Value of Ubuntu Among Students Staying in Residences at a University in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Nokukhanya Zondi: Exploring child participation in parental divorce matters in African indigenous communities of KwaZulu-Natal.
- Zamansele Nsele: Exploring the meanings girls attach to virginity testing in the 21st century: A study on maidens from a Cultural Institute in Pietermaritzburg; KwaZulu-Natal.
- Nokuzola Dudeni: Mental illness-related stigma in the workplace: Exploring the experiences of affectected employees at Ethekwini Municipality
- Nozipho Gumede: Preserving Family Bonds: Parents’ experiences in maintaining contact with their children placed at Child and Youth Care Centres in Durban
- Itumelang Machaba, ADOLESCENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS’ EXPERIENCES WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN RURAL AREA OF SHONGOANE1, LIMPOPO PROVINCE
- Zama Khanyile: EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS OF SECOND OFFENDERS WITH REHABILITATION SERVICES: A CASE STUDY OF NCOME CORRECTIONAL CENTRE
- Zandile Monica Thango: Experiences of non-biological caregivers of children who are non-adherent to ART: A case study of King Dinizulu Hospital
Honours
Supervised and graduated more than 100 Social Work Level 4 Honors Equivalent students